Exercising machine



Nov. 8, 1955 H. c. LITTLE EXERCISING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 Fig 2 INVENTOR. Harry G [iii/e United States Patent EXERCISING MACHINE Harry C. Little, San Rafael, Calif.

Application February 2, 1953, Serial No. 334,659

Claims. (Cl. 128-33) The present invention relates to an exercising machine and its principal object is to apply a certain degree of stretch to the body of a person along the axis of the spine, while the person is lying on his back and the body is held under tension.

Since most people generally tend to stoop forward, the particular back-stretch proposed in the use of my invention is usually neglected, and I have found in experiments that many cases of back trouble caused by misplaced discs, muscle strains and sacroiliac trouble are Very much benefited by the use of my machine.

More particularly, it is proposed to provide a raised mattress on which a person may lie on his back, and to provide adjustable means engaging the head and the feet of the person for placing the body of the'person under tension.

It is further proposed to make the mattress in two sections, one for the support of the body of the occupant and the other for the support of the legs, the two sections being hinged together centrally, that is, underneath the hip section of the occupant, and the free end of one of the sections being hinged to a supporting frame, while the free end of the other section is slidable on the sup porting frame.

It is still further proposed to provide means for raising the hinge between the sections whereby the body of the occupant is stretched and is made to form an arc which extends the body of the occupant between his head and feet depending upon the degree of the upward movement.

It is additionally proposed to provide for a rhythm in alternately stretching and relaxing the body by alternately raising and lowering the hinge between the two sections.

And finally, it is proposed to arrange the head and foot anchoring means in such a manner that they are slidable with respect to the mattress sections and are relatively unaffected by the raising and lowering of the hinge between the sections, thus holding the body of the occupant under tension, which alternately increases and decreases during the operation of the machine.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the new and novel features of my exercising machine will be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of my exercising machine;

Figure 2, a top plan view of the same;

Figure 3, a fragmentary end view of the machine; and

Figure 4, a fragmentary end view taken from the opposite end.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my exercising machine comprises in its principal features a main frame 1,

a mattress 2 resting thereon, foot anchoring means 3 at one end of the mattress, head anchoring means 4 at the other end of the mattress, and means shown generally at 5 for raising and lowering a central portion of the mattress.

The main frame may be of any desired form adapted for the purpose, preferably rectangular in form, of bed or couch length, and of a width sufiicient to comfortably accommodate a person thereon in lying position.

The main frame is shown as comprising four corner legs 6 and a horizontal frame 7 resting thereon. The sides and ends of the main frame may be enclosed, if desired, and the top may also be suitably covered, where such cover does not interfere with the working mecha- IllSIIl.

The main frame has suitable hand rails 8 mounted alongside thereof in spaced relation thereto and substantially in the upper plane of the frame.

The mattress 2 is made in two sections 9 and 10 meeting substantially midway of the length of the mattress, each section comprising a rigid frame and suitable upholstery covering the same. The rigid frames are hingedly connected, as at 11.

The mattress section 9, which is intended to support the legs of the occupant, has depending brackets 12 hinged, attheir lower ends, on a transverse shaft 13 supported by the main frame, rearwardly thereof and sub stantially in the upper plane thereof. This allows the mattress section 9 to swing on the shaft 13.

The mattress section'10 has a flat, horizontal lip 14 projecting outwardly from the outer end thereof, in the plane of the rigid frame, and this lip is slidably supported on a transverse shaft 15 mounted on the-main frame in slightly spaced relation thereto. The lip slides on the shaft 15 when the hinge 11 is raised.

The foot anchoring means 3 comprises a carrier in the form of a box 16 slidable on the mattress section 9, the box being rectangular and made to completely surround the mattress section, with an upper member 17 disposed above the section, a corresponding lower member disposed below the section, and side members 18 disposed on opposite sides of the section. The side members ride on flanges 19 projecting from the mattress section and have suitable rollers 20 bearing on the flanges from above and from below to insure a smooth sliding movement.

The upper member of the box has two posts 21 rising from the side edges thereof and these posts are slotted, as at 22, to receive two rollers 23, one in the bottom ends of the slots, and the other freely slidable in the upper ends of the slots, so as to allow the feet of the occupant to be introduced between the rollers, as shown in Figure l, and to be anchored therebetween.

The box is operated for forward and backward adjustment by means of a screw 24, revolvably anchored in a bracket 25 fixed with respect to the mattress section and threaded into a bracket 26 projecting downwardly from the lower box member, the brackets being arranged midway of the width of the mattress and in such a manner as to position the screw parallel to the mattress section.

The outer end of the screw is provided with a crank handle 27, so that, by operation of t .e latter, the box may be advanced and retracted for properly positioning the same.

The head anchoring means 4 is arranged on substantially the same principle and comprises a box 23 slidable on the mattress section and supported on flanges 29, with the screw 3%} serving to advance and retract the same. The screw may be-revolvably anchored in the shaft 15, as at 30.

- The upper member 31 of the box carries a platform 32 A- head supporting cushion 34 is slidable on this platform with a flange 33 projecting from the rear end thereof.

Patented Nov. 8, 1955 and has a pair of posts mounted rearwardly thereof to serve as anchoring means for a suitable chin strap 36. The cushion is connected to the flange 33 by means of a spring 37., one end of which may be turned back upon the spring and provided with a pointer 38 for reading against a scale (not shown), to indicate the degree of tension applied to the occupant.

The means for raising and lowering the hinge 11 may be in the form of a hydraulic cylinder supplied with oil under pressure by a motor operated pump with suitable control valves for reversing, and with a plunger 41 operating the hinge.

In operation, the .head and feet anchoring .means are first adjusted, by operation of the crank handles 27, to make the spacing between the same correspond approximately to the height of the person desiring to take the exercise. The person then lies down on the mattress, engaging his feet between the rollers 23 and applying the chin strap 36.

Next, an attendant operates either or both of the crank handles 27 for pulling the anchoring means outward to place the body of the person under tension, the degree of tension being indicated by the pointer 38.

Next, the attendant starts the motor for operating the pump and the plunger to alternately raise and lower the central connection 11 between the two mattress sections, to raise and lower the hip section of the occupant, and to alternately stretch and relax the body of the occupant.

During this operation the mattress section 9 swings on the pivot 13, while the outer end of the mattress section 10-, through its lip 14, is made to slide back and forth on the shaft 15.

Since the screw 30 is anchored fixedly with respect to the main frame, preferably in the shaft 15, the box 28 with its cushion 34, cannot follow the sliding movement of the mattress section 10, with the result that the latter slides with respect to the box, through the flanges 29 operating between the rollers 20.

Thus, the foot-anchoring means and the head-anchoring means maintain their spacing at all times and keep the body of the occupant under tension during the entire operation, while the central hinge alternately stretches and relaxes the body.

The stretching action is principally directed to the spinal region of the occupant, since in the stretching operation of the machine, it is the body-supporting mattress section 10 which slides with respect to the head-anchoring cushion 34 and forms an extensible unit therewith.

I claim:

1. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the frame and having a back supporting section, a leg supporting section and a hinged connection between the same, one end of the mattress being hinged to the frame and the other end being slidable on the frame, and means active on the hinged connection for alternately raising and lowering the same, the frame having means at opposite ends of the mattress for anchoring the head and the feet of a person lying on the mattress.

2. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the frame and having a back supporting section, a leg supporting section and a hinged connection between the same, one end of the mattress being hinged to the frame and the other end being slidable on the frame, and means active on the hinged connection for alternately raising and lowering the same, the frame having means at opposite ends of the mattress for anchoring the head and the feet of a person lying on the mattress, and the latter means being adjustable for placing the body of the person under tension.

3. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported horizontally on the frame, and means at opposite ends of the frame for anchoring the head and the feet of a person lying on the mattress, the said means comprising carriers mounted at opposite ends of the frame and having the mattress slidably confined therein; means for longitudinally adjusting the carriers with respect to the frame, and head and foot anchoring means mounted on the carriers.

4. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported horizontally on the frame, and means at opposite ends of the mattress for anchoring the head and the feet of a person lying on the mattress, the said means comprising carriers slidable on opposite ends of the mattress, means for longitudinally adjusting the carriers on the mattress and head and foot anchoring means mounted on the carriers, the foot anchoring means comprising a pair of posts rising from one of the carriers and having longitudinal slots therein, a roller mounted in the lower ends of the slots for the heels of the person to rest upon and a second roller slidable in the slots above the first roller for the feet of the person to anchor against.

5. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported horizontally on the frame, and means at opposite ends of the mattress for anchoring the head and the feet of a person lying on the mattress, the said means comprising carriers slidable on opposite ends of the mattress, means for longitudinally adjusting the carriers on the mattress, and head and foot anchoring means mounted on the carriers, the head ancohring means comprising a plate mounted on the carrier having a flange at the outer end thereof, a head supporting cushion slidable on the inner end of the plate having chin engaging means for securing the head and a spring connecting the cushion and the flange.

6. In an exercising machine of the character described, a main frame having a horizontal shaft mounted at one end thereof, a mattress section having one end pivoted to said shaft and having lateral flanges projecting there from, a carriage encompassing the mattress section and riding on the flanges, foot-anchoring means supported by the carriage above the mattress, a bracket depending from the carriage, a bracket depending from the hinged end of the mattress section, and a screw mounted in parallel relation to the mattress and revolvable in one of the brackets and held against motion therein and threaded into the other bracket for moving the carriage with respect to the mattress when the screw is turned.

7. In an exercising machine of the character described, a main frame having a horizontal shaft mounted at one end thereof, with a bearing in the shaft, a mattress section having one end slidable and tiltable on said shaft and having lateral flanges projecting therefrom, a carriage encompassing the mattress section and riding on the flanges, head anchoring means supported by the carriage above the mattress, a bracket depending from the carriage, and a screw revolvable in the bearing and held against endwise motion therein, and threaded into the bracket in parallel relation to the mattress section for moving the carriage with respect to the mattress when the screw is turned.

8. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the main frame and having a back-supporting section, a leg-supporting section and i a hinged connection between the same, both ends of the mattress being tiltable on the frame and at least one end being slidable on the frame, means active on the hinged connection for alternately raising and lowering the same, and means at opposite ends of the frame for anchoring the head and the feet of a person lying on the mattress, the anchoring means at the slidable end of the mattress being sildable with respect to the mattress.

9. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the frame and having a backsupporting section, a leg supporting section and a hinged connection between the same, one end of the mattress being hinged to the frame, and the other end being slidable on the frame, yielding means for lengthwise stretching the body of a person lying on the mattress, and means active on the hinged connection for alternately raising and lowering the same in a continuous movement whereby the body of the person is subjected to continuously varying tension.

10. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the frame and having a backsupporting section, a leg-supporting section and a hinged connection between the same, the free end of the legsupporting section being pivoted to the frame and the free end of the back-supporting section being slidable on the frame, non-yielding means for anchoring the feet of an occupant with respect to the pivot of the leg-supporting section, tension means for anchoring the head of the occupant with respect to the frame at the free end of the back-supporting section, and means for raising the hinged connection for stretching the body of the occupant, with the main stretching effect confined to the back of the occupant.

11. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the frame and having a back supporting section, a leg-supporting section and a hinged connection between the same, the free end of the legsupporting section being pivoted to the frame and the free end of the back-supporting section being slidable on the frame, non-yielding means for anchoring the feet of an occupant with respect to the pivot of the leg-supporting section, tension means for anchoring the head of the occupant with respect to the frame at the free end of the back-supporting section, and means for alternately raising and lowering the hinged connection for alternately stretching and relaxing the body of the occupant, with the main stretching effect confined to the back of the occupant due to the sliding movement of the back supporting section.

12. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the frame and having a backsupporting section, a leg-supporting section and a hinged connection between the same, the free end of the legsupporting section being pivoted to one end of the frame and the free end of the back-supporting section being slidable on the other end of the frame, means for anchor ing the head and the feet of an occupant to opposite ends of the frame, and means for raising the hinged connection for stretching the body of the occupant, with the main stretching effect confined to the back of the occupant due to the free movement of the back supporting section with respect to the head anchoring means.

13. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the frame and having a backsupporting section, a leg-supporting section and a hinged connection between the same, the free end of the le supporting section being pivoted to one end of the frame and the free end of the back-supporting section being slidable on the other end of the frame, means for anchoring the head and feet of an occupant with respect to opposite ends of the frame, and means for raising the hinged connection for stretching the body of the occupant, with the main stretching effect confined to the back of the occupant due to the free sliding movement of the backsupporting section with respect to the head-anchoring means, the head-anchoring means including tensioning means for controlling the stretching effect.

14. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the frame and having a backsupporting section, a legsupporting section and a hinged connection between the same, the free end of the legsupporting section being pivoted to one end of the frame and the free end of the back-supporting section being slidable on the other end of the frame, means for anchoring the head and the feet of an occupant with respect to opposite ends of the frame, and means for alternately raising and lowering the hinged connection for alternately stretching and relaxing the body of the occupant, with the main stretching effect confined to the back of the occupant due to the free sliding movement of the backsupporting section with respect to the head-anchoring means.

15. An exercising machine comprising a main frame, a mattress supported on the frame and having a back-supporting section, a leg-supporting section and a hinged connection between the same, the free end of the legsupporting section being pivoted to one end of the frame and the free end of the back-supporting section being slidable on the other end of the frame, means for anchoring the head and the feet of an occupant with respect to opposite ends of the frame, and means for alternately raising and lowering the hinged connection for alternately stretching and relaxing the body of the occupant, with the main stretching effect confined to the back of the occupant due to the free sliding movement of the back-supporting section with respect to the head-anchoring means, the headanchoring means including tensioning means for controlling the stretching effect.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 546,235 Luther Sept. 10, 1895 1,241,171 Vitullo Sept. 25, 1917 1,931,999 Smith Oct. 24, 1933 2,534,587 Fisher Dec. 19, 1950 

